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Except for the throngs of Muslim pilgrims making their Hajj, Saudi Arabia is not a major tourist destination; and unless you have some kind of formal business in the country, it is not an easy place to visit. For travelers trying to reach the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from Iran, this difficulty is compounded by the lack of direct transportation links between the two countries. Iran and Saudi Arabia might share the Persian Gulf, but in terms of travel they are worlds apart.

Items you will need

Passport

Saudi Arabian visa

Step 1

Apply for the relevant visa through the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the United States and before your departure. Saudi Arabia does not have a Visa on Arrival service, so if you do not have a visa in hand, you will not be admitted into the country.

Step 2

Book a flight through one of Iran's international airports, such as the airports in Tehran, Isfahan or Tabriz. Choose whatever airline that is most convenient, as direct flights between Iran and Saudi Arabia are a rarity, and you will most likely connect through Kuwait, Bahrain or Dubai.

Step 3

Travel to Bushehr to leave Iran by sea. From here, you can book passage on a cargo ship or ferry with the Combined Shipping Company or Valfajr 8 Shipping Company to reach Kuwait or Bahrain.

Step 4

Travel by bus from your arrival port to Saudi Arabia. If you are in Kuwait, Saptco runs buses to the Saudi town of Damman. From Bahrain, the Saudi Bahraini Transport Company operates a bus line to the same town.

Tip

Saudi Arabia does not issue tourist visas, so non-governmental visitors must be in the country either on business, as a student or on family affairs. Most of these visas all require sponsorship from within Saudi Arabia. Also available is the transit visa, meant to cover foreigners who are in Saudi Arabia for longer than 18 hours, but in transit to somewhere else. The closest equivalent to the tourist visa is the Hajj Visa, but this is available only with the cooperation of licensed travel agencies and is therefore not suitable for those traveling from Iran.

Five-year multiple entry and exit visas are available to American citizens through the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the United States through a bilateral arrangement. If you have any intention of making repeated visits to Saudi Arabia, apply for this visa in the United States and not through another embassy.